By the time you read this our intrepid travellers/volunteers will be well and truly settled into Samoan life.
I had to mortgage the family home to pay for the extortion masquerading as ‘Parking fees” when I ventured to Brisbane International airport to bid our wonderful volunteers ‘bon voyage’.
To say they were exited would be an understatement. The pupils and teachers from the 4 schools looked terrific in matching shirts, with the project and their names proudly displayed.
From our side Rosie, our project leader, was resplendent, looking like a young Katherine Hepburn and oozing calm authority.
I am sure everyone will have the time of their lives and to show it will not all be hard work, our builder had his surfboard under his arm with the cover housing his tools and clothes. We did tell him to check it for foreign matter, but he assured us all it was a surfboard and not a ‘boogy board’.
Pleased to report, our Editor, young Franz and his lovely wife Catherine have survived the wilds of Europe and returned to the warm and safe embrace of the Gold Coast and the Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise. Welcome home.
Siànte.
Andrew Bell
President, 2017-18
(Picture above: Rosie McIntyre with some of the participants. Picture by President Andy)
Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2018-19. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
Rassin’s nomination follows Sam F. Owori’s death in July, just two weeks into his term as Rotary International president-elect.
Remember last year's inaugural presentation of the 'Lutzy' Award to Jessica Webber (picture left)?
After all the Changeovers, the first Club Meeting of the year is this coming Wednesday 12th July - and one of the most important ones: the presentation of the 'Lutzy' Award, named after our Charter Member Keith Lutz, who was also very active in the Surf Life Saving movement. Jan Lutz will be there to present the Surf Board to the winner, nominated by the Surfers Paradise Surfers Life Saving Club. You'll just have to be there to find out who it is!
Afterwards: Can you help build the School for Samoa at The Shed? From 09:00 am onwards. Also on Friday and Saturday morning from 07:00 am.
At last Sunday's Changeover Luncheon, Andy Bell was given the President's collar by Simon Brook. Here is a brief Bio provided by him:
Born in Scotland, moved to New Zealand as a child. Served an electrical apprenticeship with the NZ Ministry of Defence before joining the Police. During the time in the Police, I worked for 3 years undercover, predominantly in Narcotics, then went on to Major Crime Squad, Armed Robbery and Homicide. Was seconded to Victoria Police for 6 months, to assist in the investigation of the murder of 2 NZ citizens. After completion of the investigation, returned to NZ to continue working in Drug Squad. In 1980, I relocated permanently to Melbourne, Australia, where I worked in Senior Management positions for a large international security company. I then moved to Sydney, working in various senior roles within the security industry including chairing a number of Government and semi Government bodies associated with education and training. During this time, I wrote and had published an autobiography relating to my undercover Police work. 8 years ago, I moved to the Gold Coast and continued my work within the security industry. I am now retired and working on my second book.
For some light reading: download Andy's answer to '33 Questions' - see download section on the right!
On a glorious first Sunday of July, we had our Changeover Luncheon in the salubrious environment of the Presidential Suite at the Seaworld Resort. (Now Past) President Simon Brook handed the reigns over to Andy Bell.
Now, anyone who has been in Rotary for longer than, say, three years, would have at some stage been subjected to one of those "oh groan' speeches - you know, where they have a lengthy sermon, preaching to the converted. Not so at Surfers Sunrise!
Special congratulations go to to the winners of the major Club Awards:
Mario Fairlie received a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his ongoing strong support of the various schools for Samoa projects
Quiet Achiever Award: Al Sirovs (Al regrettably was unable to attend) for his continuous and hard work at the wheelchair shed. Al is a big contributor to the wheelchair Project & Samoan School Project.
Fellowship Cup:Tania Lairdfor her bubbly and contagious, outgoing personality, friendly, extra effort in welcoming guests, participating in fundraising and club event, great team player.
Doug Waller Trophy:Mark Twyford, not just the Club Secretary, but 'Minister for Everything', our club's representative on the Gold Coast Ramble committee and many other functions
Rotarian of the Year: Jo Gorman (picture) Not only is she a very active committee and board member, she continuously has her "shoulder at the wheel". But what a year of Guest Speakers we had!
Congratulations!
In the Download Section on the right, you will find both the Changeover Report 2016-17 (President, Treasurer and individual director's report of the past 12 months) as well as a summary of what happened at the Changeover Luncheon. It contains transcripts of Jo Gorman's toast to Rotary International and DG Darrell Brown's reply. Further on, in the Photo Album Section, you'll find some snapshots of "Who's Who" in Surfers Sunrise.
On the last Sunday of June was the District 9640 Changeover, where "our" Darrell Brown officially became the District Governor for the coming Rotary year. Simon Brook (picture right) was MC. And to top it off, Doug Lipp, who has been District Treasurer for quite some time, also was specifically singled out, being awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship for his untiring services to keep the books of the District in shape. The glorious weather at Kingscliffe reflected the bright mood of the congregation. [Did I say 'congregation'? Isn’t that word reserved for religious gatherings? Well, for over 130 ‘True Believers’ and died in the wool Rotarians and their partners, this annual event comes close.] It is a celebration of past achievements, of expressing gratefulness for the serious efforts of the Rotarians and volunteers in our district and an expression of hope, motivation and confidence in the future. A full report can be accessed on the District Website
District Governor Michael Irving summarized the year just gone. No mean feat: Besides the major international projects such as Polio Plus and The Rotary Foundation, our district has very much punched above its weight in local projects and events. 40% increase in Rotarians subscribing to Organ Donation, participation in not just one, but two Outback Links to assist flood
affected areas in Western Queensland, only to return to their own region being flooded by Cyclone Debbie. Satellite clubs are thriving,major steps forward have been made in Public Relations with Membership Seminars and getting the District onto the modern social media facilities such as Facebook. In total, the district donated US$ 350,000 to Polio Plus, over $50,000 in District Grants were enabled, 38 out of 52 clubs received District Citations and two are on target for Presidential Citations. And not least: a fantastic District Conference.
Michael proceeded to especially single out some of his ‘major movers and heavy lifters’: District Secretary Sue Randel, District Treasurer Doug Lipp (picture left), (outgoing) District Webmaster Teresa Dawkins, (outgoing) District Foundation Chair Neil Jones, (now) DG Elect Terry Brown in recognition of his work with Outback Links, as well as District Conference Organizers Jodie Shelley and Col Lee. All have been presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of their outstanding services.
The highlight of the day however was the presentation of the Brian and Nancy Knowles Award. It is named in their honour for significant and substantial service to Rotary International on a local and international level. What better deserving recipients than PDG Graham and Marion Jones? Congratulations!
Michael then transferred the Governor’s collar to incoming District Governor Darrell Brown. A summary of Darrell’s speech was published in the July edition of the District Newsletter which was sent to all members.
Ah, and the District Conference Raffle was drawn. Pity you were not there… The ticket numbers are A3021, A2594, A4399, A4566 and A1117. And finally, our newly baked DG’s partner Kerrie Brown presented the winner of her marvellous quilt raffle to Sue Lea.
A pictorial of the event has been uploaded to the District Website – see Photo Gallery under the News tab.
Des La Rance needs a few able bodies to help him if the Samoa School is to be completed on time, then to be dismantled to be loaded into the container. He is at The Shed (off Napper Road) the following times when he needs help.
Every Wednesday 9-12pm (after club meetings)
Every Friday 8-12pm
Every Saturday 7.30-12pm
Feel free to rope in friends and family as well! If you need more details you can phone Des on 0413 704 954 for more information. You don't need to have any special skills!
President Andy Bell spent the last couple of weeks planning the coming year. This is a summary of how he explained it to his better half Robbie:
"I have no doubt I shall, please Heaven, begin to be more beforehand with the world, and to live in a perfectly new manner, if — if, in short, anything turns up." Wilkins Micawber in Charles Dickens' David Copperfield
Patriotism is not obedience to government. Patriotism is obedience to the principles for which government is supposed to stand. Howard Zinn, historian and playwright.
.jpg)
At last Sunday's Changeover Luncheon, Andy Bell was given the President's collar by Simon Brook. Here is a brief Bio provided by him:
On a glorious first Sunday of July, we had our Changeover Luncheon in the salubrious environment of the Presidential Suite at the Seaworld Resort. (Now Past) President Simon Brook handed the reigns over to Andy Bell. 
On the last Sunday of June was the District 9640 Changeover, where "our" Darrell Brown officially became the District Governor for the coming Rotary year. Simon Brook (picture right) was MC. And to top it off, Doug Lipp, who has been District Treasurer for quite some time, also was specifically singled out, being awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship for his untiring services to keep the books of the District in shape. The glorious weather at Kingscliffe reflected the bright mood of the congregation. 
Michael proceeded to especially single out some of his ‘major movers and heavy lifters’: District Secretary Sue Randel, District Treasurer Doug Lipp (picture left), (outgoing) District Webmaster Teresa Dawkins, (outgoing) District Foundation Chair Neil Jones, (now) DG Elect Terry Brown in recognition of his work with Outback Links, as well as District Conference Organizers Jodie Shelley and Col Lee. All have been presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of their outstanding services.
